Polynesian dance classes offered weekly at USO

Polynesian dance taught at the USO, Jacksonville, by Roxanne McKinney Wednesday. Behind her are Kaleyne Rayes and Ashley Boone.

John Althouse/The Daily News

By CHRISTOPHER THOMAS - Daily News Staff

Published: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 03:45 PM.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the contact information.

They’re dances at the heart of cultures nearly 6,000 miles away, but dancer Roxanne McKinney has brought them to Jacksonville.

“I wanted to share this with the community,” McKinneysaid. “It’s a popular dance that people admire.”

McKinney, a native Pilipino, has been dancing for much of her life, first learning Hawaiian dances from a cousin. According to McKinney, these early lessons came in handy for her throughout her school years, when dancing was a crucial part of physical education for Pilipino school children

“Eighty percent of P.E. was dancing back then,” McKinneysaid. “I already knew a lot of it by the time I started school.”

McKinney made her way to the United Statesin 1990, first to Camp Pendleton, Calif., then to Beaufort in 1993. For years, McKinneytook a hiatus from Polynesian dancing, but after moving to Myrtle Beach, S.C., in the early 2000s, McKinneyrekindled her love for it when she met a dancer known as Chief Kamu (Kamu meaning “teacher” in the Hawaiian language).

“He asked me if I wanted to join his group (now known as Chief Kamu’s Fire and Hula Show) and I said ‘yes’,” said McKinney. “I was able to remember things and pick it back up.”

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the contact information.

They’re dances at the heart of cultures nearly 6,000 miles away, but dancer Roxanne McKinney has brought them to Jacksonville.

“I wanted to share this with the community,” McKinneysaid. “It’s a popular dance that people admire.”

McKinney, a native Pilipino, has been dancing for much of her life, first learning Hawaiian dances from a cousin. According to McKinney, these early lessons came in handy for her throughout her school years, when dancing was a crucial part of physical education for Pilipino school children

“Eighty percent of P.E. was dancing back then,” McKinneysaid. “I already knew a lot of it by the time I started school.”

McKinney made her way to the United Statesin 1990, first to Camp Pendleton, Calif., then to Beaufort in 1993. For years, McKinneytook a hiatus from Polynesian dancing, but after moving to Myrtle Beach, S.C., in the early 2000s, McKinneyrekindled her love for it when she met a dancer known as Chief Kamu (Kamu meaning “teacher” in the Hawaiian language).

“He asked me if I wanted to join his group (now known as Chief Kamu’s Fire and Hula Show) and I said ‘yes’,” said McKinney. “I was able to remember things and pick it back up.”

McKinneyfound her way to Jacksonvillein 2010; and on June 26 of this year, McKinneystarted giving lessons at the USO. McKinneysaid Polynesian dances like the hula are not only good for the body, but for the mind and spirit.

“Hula helps you focus and unwind,” McKinneysaid. “You have to concentrate on the words of the music because you’re telling a story through your dance movies. You’re telling the story of a culture.”

McKinney said the sort of dancing she’s offering is an alternative to more established dance workouts in the area like Zumba, but the moves she’s teaching her students are as ancient as the cultures themselves.

An alternative to the normal exercise regiment is exactly what one of McKinney’s students, Ashley Boone, was looking for. Boone, who works with McKinneyat the ChildDevelopmentCenteraboard New River Air Station, found out about the lessons when McKinneyshared photos of her dancing.

“It was different, something besides Zumba or going to the gym,” Boone said. “It’s a good mind relaxer, but it’s very demanding.”

For Kaleyne Rayes, a student at JacksonvilleCommonsMiddle School, the classes have not only been a way to get some exercise, but a way to connect with her Chamorro (native people of Guam) heritage.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Rayes said. “It’s exciting learning new dances every week.”

McKinneysaid her hope is to expose the community to something new and experience the benefits Polynesian dances have to offer.

“Hopefully, they’ll get the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of this dancing,” McKinneysaid.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Jacksonville Daily News. To contact him, call 910-219-8473 or e-mail him at christopher.thomas@jdnews.com.

Want to go?

Polynesian dance lessons are offered at the NC-USOJacksonvilleCenter, located at 9 Tallman St. in downtown Jacksonville, every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7. Each lesson costs $6. For more information, contact Roxanne McKinney at 910-750-6096.